Spruce Creek honors heroes with Veteran's Day ceremony

By Gary GreenCorrespondent

Published: Friday, November 21, 2008 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 21, 2008 at 6:26 a.m.

SUMMERFIELD — Veterans Day resounded with many in Marion County and beyond. Commemorations locally included a solemn ceremony held by the Del Webb's Spruce Creek Golf and Country Club Veteran's Association.

Members of the association have served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Guest speaker Col. Tyge Rugenstein spoke of " … a long chain of courage and selfless sacrifice." His remarks in effect linked the veterans of the past with those who served before them, with those who currently stand a post and those preparing to serve.

Rugenstein is commandant of the United States Military Academy Prep School in Fort Monmouth, N.J., which prepares candidates for admission to the United States Military Academy.

According to Rugenstein, 85 percent of candidates are successful at gaining entrance into the Military Academy at West Point. Once an avenue for enlisted men to gain access to the academy, a large percentage of candidates now come from high schools across the nation, he said.

Rugenstein, a second generation Army engineer, is a product of an Army education.

"The Army kept giving me opportunities that were exciting," he said. "Twenty five years later, I'm still in."

He is a graduate of West Point. Through the Army, he pursued a masters degree in Applied Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and returned to West Point as an instructor. He also obtained a Ph.D. in Decision Sciences and Engineering Systems, also from Rensselaer.

The colonel's father, Lt. Col. Ed Rugenstein, a Vietnam veteran and retired career officer, said with pride during the recent gathering: "He outranks me, now I call him Sir."

The senior Rugenstein and his wife Jody are residents of the Spruce Creek active adult retirement community and Ed is a member of the Veteran's Association.

During the commandant's speech to the group, he traced U.S. military history and talked of the service of those who served, ". . . not for personal gain or glory, but because they believe in the ideals of liberty and democracy and the very principles that make our nation great."

He also spoke of his pride in personally administering the oath of military service to 1,000 future military officers and reminded the respectful crowd that every veteran "has a face and a life just like yours and mine."

He talked about the sacrifices of war as well as veterans service in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions.

Rugenstein closed his remarks quoting President George Washington: "The willingness of future generations to serve in the military will be directly dependent on how we treat those who have served in the past."

<p>SUMMERFIELD  Veterans Day resounded with many in Marion County and beyond. Commemorations locally included a solemn ceremony held by the Del Webb's Spruce Creek Golf and Country Club Veteran's Association.</p><p>Members of the association have served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Guest speaker Col. Tyge Rugenstein spoke of " a long chain of courage and selfless sacrifice." His remarks in effect linked the veterans of the past with those who served before them, with those who currently stand a post and those preparing to serve.</p><p>Rugenstein is commandant of the United States Military Academy Prep School in Fort Monmouth, N.J., which prepares candidates for admission to the United States Military Academy.</p><p>According to Rugenstein, 85 percent of candidates are successful at gaining entrance into the Military Academy at West Point. Once an avenue for enlisted men to gain access to the academy, a large percentage of candidates now come from high schools across the nation, he said.</p><p>Rugenstein, a second generation Army engineer, is a product of an Army education.</p><p>"The Army kept giving me opportunities that were exciting," he said. "Twenty five years later, I'm still in."</p><p>He is a graduate of West Point. Through the Army, he pursued a masters degree in Applied Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and returned to West Point as an instructor. He also obtained a Ph.D. in Decision Sciences and Engineering Systems, also from Rensselaer.</p><p>The colonel's father, Lt. Col. Ed Rugenstein, a Vietnam veteran and retired career officer, said with pride during the recent gathering: "He outranks me, now I call him Sir."</p><p>The senior Rugenstein and his wife Jody are residents of the Spruce Creek active adult retirement community and Ed is a member of the Veteran's Association.</p><p>During the commandant's speech to the group, he traced U.S. military history and talked of the service of those who served, ". . . not for personal gain or glory, but because they believe in the ideals of liberty and democracy and the very principles that make our nation great."</p><p>He also spoke of his pride in personally administering the oath of military service to 1,000 future military officers and reminded the respectful crowd that every veteran "has a face and a life just like yours and mine."</p><p>He talked about the sacrifices of war as well as veterans service in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions.</p><p>Rugenstein closed his remarks quoting President George Washington: "The willingness of future generations to serve in the military will be directly dependent on how we treat those who have served in the past."</p>